Born Sept. 8, 1927 in New York City
Entered Society of Jesus on Sept. 7, 1946
Ordained on June 20, 1959
Died on May 26, 1994

For more than 40 years, Fr. O'B (as he was fondly called) promoted Bicol. He first came to Naga in 1953 and fell in love with the region and its people. Having learned the Bicol language, he dedicated himself to the promotion of Bicol culture. He trekked with his students to 99 Bicol towns collecting folk songs, tales, proverbs, riddles, even "bansags" (aliases). Under his guidance, students wrote local histories, comedies, poems, beliefs and cultural practices. Their collections and writings were later incorporated in The Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Bicol People. First published in 1966, the book had its third edition in 1993. Assigned in Manila in 1992, he continued to extol, in writings and talks, the wealth and beauty of Bicol history and culture. An appreciative Naga City council passed a resolution making the "tallest Bicolano" an adopted son of Naga. In 1990, the Ateneo De Naga conferred on Fr. O'Brien the Golden Jubilee Award for the promotion of Bicol culture. He was a school Trustee from 1990 until his death in 1994. (Author's Personal Note: In addition to all of the above, one of the bigger achievements of Fr. O'B was his patience and success in teaching me and so many others the game of BASKETBALL, sa Kiborak.)